SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — OurBus, a passenger motor carriers broker based in New York, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Ithaca, alleging it established a permit system for motor carriers that violates federal law.
According to the March 21 court filing in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, OurBus Inc. alleges Ithaca denied OurBus the renewal of its permit to use city streets and to stop on city streets to board/discharge passengers.
Ithaca's denial to renew OurBus' permit prohibits motor carriers from using Ithaca's streets to stop, board and discharge passengers, and forces OurBus to no longer make arrangements or sell transportation by motor carriers within the city.
The lawsuit alleges the city ordinance that established "a permit system" not only violates the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution "by imposing excessive restrictions" on motor carriers but also "discriminates against interstate commerce" and "favors" motor carriers that transport passengers only locally and are not subjected to the permit.
OurBus seeks to have the court declare Ithaca's InterCity Bus permit system "unenforceable."